How to use VK, Russian social network | Social networks

VK is the most popular social network in Russia and the ninth most accessed website in the world, according to Similar Web, with 477 million accounts. The platform is similar to Facebook and has features such as posting texts, photos and videos, in addition to groups, native music services and an advertising tool. Available in the web version and in apps for Windows, Android and iOS, the site allows you to choose between 86 language options, such as Portuguese and English.

Interest in the service has grown here since the Brazil-Mexico game, in the round of 16 of the World Cup, held last Monday (2), when a mysterious fan, the Russian Yuri Torsky, was caught with a peculiar look and curled up in the Brazilian flag. The image went viral, won several memes and thus began the saga in search of his name, which rocked the Internet. The case was solved after the discovery of his profile on VK. Check below how to use and what are the main features of the social network.

Five latest VK changes that made Russian Facebook better

VK is a Russian social network that drew attention after curiosity in the World Cup game between Brazil and Mexico Photo: Divulgao / VK

To create an account on the social network, you can choose between Facebook login data or email registration. In this tutorial we will exemplify the first case.

Step 2. On the page that opens, include the data you want and complete the process using the "Save" button;

Insert or edit data in VK in a simple way Photo: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho

Step 3. On the right side, all subcategories of information are available, such as "Contacts", "Interests", "Education", "Employment", among others. Fill in the ones you prefer and save the records in "Save".

VK allows users to publish different types of content, just like Facebook. Text messages can be accompanied by photos, videos, audio files and documents, for example. It is also possible to post more extensive content in the form of an article (in a format similar to that of blogs).

The platform also guarantees the sharing of citations in the form of notes, location, in addition to the sale of items (in the "Article" option). There is also the possibility of making a drawing (in "Grafitti") and conducting surveys. The social network allows the scheduling of the publication of each content and the choice of how long it should remain on the air, through the timer.

Selling products on VK can be done in the "Articles" category Photo: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho

In the "My page" section, accessible through the side menu or by clicking on the thumbnail of the profile photo, on the right side of the screen, the user can view all posts and actions taken, like other people's likes, photos, videos and published articles , among other information.

"Minha pgina" on VK brings the record of actions taken by the user Photo: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho

The "Friends" option is for the user to view those profiles already added and search for new contacts. To do this, simply type the person's name in the search field and press the "Enter" key. If you find someone you are looking for, click on "Add as friend" and wait until the request is accepted.

Search for friends in the simple VK, just use the search field of the social network Photo: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho

Similar to Facebook, VK has groups that bring together people with common interests. The communities in which the user is part are displayed and the option to search for new ones. To do this, simply type the topic of interest in the search field and press "Enter" to view the result. By clicking on "Subscribe", the person already becomes a member (or needs to wait for the moderator's authorization).

VK groups serve as a means of contact with people with similar interests Photo: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho

The Russian platform also supports creating and publishing photo albums. The user can assign a name and description to the set of images and, at creation, select who can see them.

The photo album in VK allows you to define privacy when viewing Foto: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho

The Music tool is a way for network users to share musical tastes. With it, you can listen to your favorite songs, create playlists, check service suggestions and even check your friends' updates. A difference is that an artist's playlist or album can be heard even when using other VK sections, since the player remains at the top of the screen. a kind of Spotify within the site.

VK has a "type" of Spotify to call his Photo: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho

The VK video section guarantees everyone's access to a library with all public films posted or broadcast live on the platform. Through this section, you can share your own audiovisual content and start broadcasting in real time for your followers or open to other subscribers.

VK video library Photo: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho

Another function known to Facebook users that also exists on the Russian network is games. The problem is that all (or a good part of them) are in Russian, which can be complicated to understand and thus impair performance in play.

VK games are in Russian Photo: Reproduction / Taysa Coelho

In Articles, you can search for products sold by other people and also advertise yours. However, there is no standard metric unit for the items offered, as well as the translation of the original published content. Thus, the function becomes confusing and of little use to Brazilians.

The catalog of VK articles can be quite confusing due to the lack of translation Foto: Reproduo / Taysa Coelho